The easiest way to get a license is through the Hamilton County recorder’s office, where it has all the requirements and regulations related to the type of wildlife and fowl that are hunted.

Hamilton County Recorder Kim Anderson and her staff sell the hunting licenses from their offices at the Hamilton County Courthouse, 2300 Superior St., Webster City.

“It isn’t exactly a tidy answer for all the different types of hunting,” Anderson said.

“Deer, turkey, migratory bird, furbearing animals, trapping, small game/upland have separate and varying season dates. Hunting licenses can be purchased beginning December 15 of a given year and that will be valid the remainder of the year, the entire next year and up until January 10 of the following year for residents. Non-resident hunting licenses expire on December 31,” she explained.

Hunting licenses for deer went on sale August 15, but they are not the only licenses needed. Some also go on sale in December for special seasons.

“Purchasing deer tags in Iowa can sometimes be a very confusing process to those who have never done it before, or even to vendors who are not aware of what hunters actually need to purchase to be legal in the field,” said Anderson, “We encourage customers to call us at 515-832-9535 or even stop at our office and we would be happy to walk them through the process or let them know what licenses and tags they are entitled to, or need to, hunt the specific dates they are interested in.”

Most annual licenses for residents range from $7 to $33, while lifetime hunting and fishing licenses can be purchased if the licensee is over the age of 65. These cost between $61.50 and $65. Disabled military veterans or former prisoners of war can get a lifetime license for $7.

There are a few animals which have a continuous open season. Those include raccoons, coyotes, groundhogs and pigeons.

But this weekend marks the beginning, as the season for cottontail rabbits, jack rabbits, gray squirrels and fox squirrels start on Saturday and continue until Jan. 31, 2026. Mourning dove season runs from Sept.1 to Nov. 29.

There are some limited public areas for hunting in Hamilton County. Some areas are managed by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, according to the DNR Public Hunting Atlas. Those include:

Coyote Run;

Gordon’s Marsh for dove, pheasants and waterfowl;

Tunnel Mill Access for deer and turkey;

Boone Forks Wildlife Area for deer, turkey, pheasant and dove;

Little Wall Lake for pheasant, waterfowl and dove;

Kamrar Wildlife Management area;

Johnson Wildlife Management area;

Bauer Slough;

Albright River Access,

Iowa Habitat Access program (walk-in only) deer and pheasants;

Heise Wildlife management areas;

Richard’s Marsh;

Barner Wildlife management area;

Mark and Sadie Bishop Conservation area;

Brandrup’s Timber.

Nate Carr, who works for the DNR and is responsible for both Hamilton and Hardin counties, offered several reminders to hunters.

“While hunting migratory game birds you are required to use only nontoxic shot such as steel, bismuth and tungsten. You are also required to use a shotgun capable of holding no more than three shells. Some wildlife areas require nontoxic shot only, whether you are hunting migratory birds or other species like pheasants,” he said.

Hunters are reminded to get proper permissions to hunt on private property and be aware of where property lines end.

There are also courtesies all hunters should follow.

“Please pick empty shell casings, especially when dove hunting,” Carr said. “Leaving them in the field is considered littering.”

Getting a hunting license has a few requirements, according to Anderson.

“When selling a hunting license, we ask for the person’s date of birth and the last four digits of their social security number. We also confirm their address.”

She added, “If they were born after January of 1972 they have to have completed the Hunter Safety Class and have that number on file with the DNR before we can sell them a hunting license. Children under 16 are not required to have a hunting license unless they are hunting certain seasons without a licensed adult with them.

“Those who are 16 to 65 need to have a hunting license and a Habitat Stamp. Persons over 65 still need a hunting license — they are eligible to purchase a lifetime license, but do not need a Habitat Stamp in Iowa.”

Hunter safety classes are offered each year by the DNR, usually between March 1 and November 15.

Carr cautioned all new and experienced hunters: “Always be sure to properly identify your target and what is beyond it. Communicate your location with other hunters in the area to ensure you have safe zones of fire.”